The mystery of why Kidlington has become a hotspot for Chinese tourists has grown to global proportions.
After the story of selfie stick-wielding visitors arriving in the usually peaceful village hit the headlines, the world’s media have descended in an attempt to discover the reason.
The story has appeared in news outlets in the USA, Asia and even New Zealand.
Parish council chairman Maurice Billington said he was delighted at the sudden attention the village had received.
The 62-year-old said: “I’ve been overwhelmed. We’ve had David Cameron come here last year to open Oxford Parkway but we’ve never had anything like this.
“I’ve been asked to appear on a radio station in the USA and I’ve been on a Scottish station and BBC Radio2 as well. I love all the attention. It’s really put Kidlington on the map.”
Mr Billington added that he had a meeting with local police officers on Wednesday after some residents complained about tourists coming into their gardens to take photos.
The reason for the sudden influx of visitors has sparked numerous conspiracy theories.
Some have suggested it might be because of a lucky street in the village while others think it is more to do with its proximity to the popular Bicester Village.
Many tourists have also been visiting St Mary’s Church in Church Street. The church’s team rector, the Rev Felicity Scroggie, said: “It makes us appreciate that we live in a really nice village.
“If all this attention puts us on the map because of a quaint eye-brow raising story then that is fantastic.”
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